Diazo reproducing machine



Sept. 2, 1969 F. G.WILDE ETAL 3,464,690

DIAZO REPRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1 11155-1 I ,l J'rm 24 1'! ('1? (I: r Les/[e (1 0 17/07 1 H00 Sept. 2, 1969 F. G.WILDE ETAL 3,464,690

DIAZO REPRODUCING momma Original Filed Dec. 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet z O 2 (f3 3' 2 5 o O O 0030939 5 0 g 0 g 0 gag/Q g 2002002605 0 O O 0 W41; Q 3 Q 8 Q 53 1'02 0 O 0 2.1/6.4 a. brs

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Sept. 2, 1969 F. e. WILDE ETAL 3,454,690

DIAZO REPRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 2, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet s United States Patent 3,464,690 DIAZO REPRODUCING MACHINE Frederick G. Wilde and L. Gordon Booth, Rochester,

N.Y., assignors to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Charles Bruning Division, Mount Prospect, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Original application Dec. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 415,540, now Patent No. 3,362,314, dated Jan. 9, 1968. Divided and this application Sept. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 683,421

Int. Cl. B65h 17/28 US. Cl. 271-45 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ammonia-type diazo copying machine including vacuum conveying means for transporting documents, comprising a plurality of spaced apart, apertured, flexible belts mounted for movement along an apertured surface of a vacuum tank. The surface of the tank includes a plurality of apertured, spaced apart raised portions between which the belts move; the outer surface of the belts and raised portions being coextensive to prevent a loss of the vacuum holding the documents to the belts, and ripples in the documents transported thereover.

This application is a division of copending application, Ser. No. 415,540, filed Dec. 2, 1964, now Patent No. Re. 26525.

This invention relates to a copying machine and, more particularly, to a new and improved copying machine using diazotype materials.

Copying machines using diazotype materials probably provide the most efficient and economical type of equipment for making the copies of original material, commonly tracings, of widely varying sizes. The original material that can be used with these machines varies from rather small discrete sheets to tracings having lengths in excess of ten feet. To realize all of the advantages of the diazotype reproducing or copying process, it is desirable to be able to produce copies of original material of all of the various sizes encountered with a single machine. However, many of the machines now available are not suitable or at least do not expeditiously handle copy and original material of widely varying sizes because of the difficulty of providing apparatus capable of transporting and collecting or receiving sheet and web material of such widely varying sizes. Further, many machines do not include easily controlled means for selecting and maintaining different rates of supplying the treating or developing agent, usually ammonia, to the machine.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved copying machine.

Another object is to provide a new and improved copying or reproducing machine using diazotype materials.

Another object is to provide a copying machine including new and improved web and sheet conveying and separating means.

Another object is to provide a copying machine including new and improved means for feeding sheet and web material of different sizes and for receiving this material at the end of the copying operation.

3,464,690 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 ice Another object is to provide a copying machine including new and improved vacuum controlled sheet and web feeding and separating means.

A further object is to provide a copying machine in which the original copying material is selectively discharged in different manners in dependence on the size thereof.

Another object is to provide 2. copying machine including means for selectively discharging sheet and web material at different locations and in different manners adapted to the size of the material.

In accordance with these and many other objects, an embodiment of the present invention comprises a copying or reproducing machine using diazotype materials having a pair of opposed flexible belt conveying means for transporting an original to be copied, such as a tracing, and a discrete sheet or elongated web of copy material into the machine in a superimposed relation. The conveying means transports the superimposed tracing and copy material around a transparent drum containing a light source to expose the copy sheet, and the tracing is thereafter separated by a novel separating assembly including a vacuum applying structure having apertured projecting portions or ridges disposed between the belts in the flexible belt conveying means to improve the degree of contact with which the tracing or original copy material is held in engagement with the belts as it is separated from the exposed copy sheet.

The conveying and separating assembly discharges the leading edge of the tracing into a tracing receiver assembly comprising a receiver tray adjustably mounted in a plurality of different positions relative to the separating assembly. In one setting of the assembly, the receiver is disposed below and extending forwardly of the separating assembly to receive the original material, such as discrete sheets, as it is discharged from the machine through a discharge opening. In another setting, the tracing receiver is positioned forwardly and below the discharge opening from the separator assembly to expose an additional flexible material drive or feeding means which contacts the tracing and which is used with original material, such as greatly elongated tracings, to assist rolling the elongated tracing into a roll disposed in the receiver. The receiver can also be mounted in an intermediate position in which it is useful for guiding the leading edge of an elongated web back into the inlet of the machine, for receiving discrete sheets of original material that are somewhat stiff, and for inverting a tracing.

The exposed copy material is retained in engagement with the conveying means by an additional vacuum unit at the point at which the tracing is separated. This web or sheet of exposed copy material is then transported through a developing chamber wherein the diazotype copy sheet is developed by contact with gaseous ammonia in the presence of water vapor.

The developed copy sheet or web at the outlet of the treating chamber is advanced to a position adjacent a discharge opening in the back wall of the housing for the copying machine. In some applications in which long lengths of copy material are being exposed and developed, it is desirable to discharge the developed copy sheet at the rear of the machine. When this type of operation is desired, a manual control unit is adjusted to a position in which a gate adjacent the opening in the back wall of the unit is operated to an open condition, and the conveying means discharges the developed copy sheet through the rear discharge opening. Alternatively, if the copy sheet is to be delivered at the front of the machine, the control unit is adjusted to a setting in which the rear gate is closed. In this setting, the leading edge of the developed copy sheet or web is transported from a position adjacent the rear of the machine toward a part of the front of the machine in which a front discharge opening is provided.

At a position along the path of the travel of the conveying means located between the front and back of the machine, an additional control gate is provided. In one setting used when relatively long lengths or webs of copy material are developed, the gate is adjusted to a position in which the leading edge of the copy material is separated from the conveying means at a position interposed between the front and back walls of the housing and is propelled forwardly over guide surfaces including the gate to be received in a copy receiver positioned adjacent the front discharge opening. The copy sheet is fed into this position by the initial conveying means. If the control means is adjusted to position the gate in its alternate or second position, the leading edge of the copy material is directed downwardly to a second conveying means, and this second conveying means ejects or discharges the developed copy sheet into the copy receiver. This alternate setting is generally used when the copy material is of relatively short length and could not be completely ejected by the first or initial conveying means because the trailing edge of the copy sheet would be moved out of engagement with the conveying means prior to the time at which the leading edge is discharged through the front discharge means or received in the copy or print receiver.

Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a copying apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a vacuum separator for separating the original material or tracing and for discharging the tracing from the copying machine;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of a vacuum tank or chamber included in the separating assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken from an opposite side from FIG. 1 illustrating a copy conveying and discharging assembly included in the copying machine;

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawings, therein is illustrated a copying machine which embodies the present invention and which is adapted to produce copies on diazotype copying sheets or webs 12 of original or graphic material from a flexible original or tracing 14. The sheets or webs of flexible material 12 and 14 are assembled in a superimposed relation with the tracing 14 overlying the copy material 14 on a feed table 16, and the assembled sheets are then inserted into the machine 10 to be engaged by a plurality of spaced fiexible belts 18 in an upper inlet conveying assembly 20. The assembly 20 feeds the sheets 12 and 14 to a position in which they are disposed between the belts 18 and a plurality of flexible conveying belts 22 in a conveying assembly indicated generally as 24. The conveying assembly 24 then transports the superimposed sheets 12 and 14 around a transparent drum 26 containing a light source 28 so that the copy material 12 is exposed in accordance with the material on the original or tracing 14.

The exposed copy sheet or web 12 and the tracing 14 are then transported to a position in which a plurality of apertured flexible conveying belts 30 in a tracing separating assembly 32 engages the outer surface of the tracing 14. The assembly 32 includes a vacuum or suction chamber or tank 34 of a novel construction which retains the tracing 14 in engagement with the belts 30 to separate this tracing from the belts 22 of the conveying assembly 24, the exposed copy sheet 12 being retained in engagement with the belts 22 by another vacuum or suction tank 36. The separating assembly 32 discharges the leading edge of the tracing 14 through a tracing discharge opening indicated generally as 38 to be received in a new and improved tracing receiver assembly indicated generally as 40.

The assembly 40 includes a tracing receiving tray 42 that is adapted to be d'etachably and pivotally mounted on the supporting structure for the machine 10 in three spaced positions shown as 40a-40c in FIG. 1. The positions 40a and 4% are generally used when the tracing 14 comprises a relatively short sheetof original material. In the position 40a, successive tracings 14 are stacked in sequence on the tray 42. In the position 401) in which the tray 42 is disposed further below the discharge from the separator assembly 32, the leading edge of the sheet of tracing 14 tends to move toward the right-hand end of the tray so that the trailing edge flips over and the sheet 14 occupies an oppositely facing position from that which it would occupy in the tray 42 in position 4041. The orientation of the sheet 14 in the tray 42 in position 40b is such that it can be directly reinserted into the machine to produce an additional copy, as contrasted with its position in the tray 42 in position 40a in which it must be reversed or inverted before being reinserted. The location of the tray 42 in position 4011 is also useful with tracings 14 that are somewhat stiff. In position 40c, the tray 42 is disposed forwardly and somewhat below the upper periphery of a clockwise rotating drive or feed means 44. The assembly 40 is adjusted to the position shown as 40c when elongated webs or large sheets are to be used. In this position, the leading edge of the tracing 14 strikes the tray 40 and, having a degree of forward or face curl, moves toward the rotating feed means 44. This feed means tends to direct the leading edge of the tracing 14 upwardly so that the tracing is rolled into a roll disposed within the tray 42.

The exposed copy sheet 12 from which the tracing 14 has been separated by the assembly 32 travels upwardly held in contact with the belts 22 of the conveying assembly 24 by the vacuum tank 36. The leading edge of the exposed copy sheet 12 passes between the structure of a treating chamber 46 and a plurality of flexible belts 48 forming a part of a conveying assembly indicated generally as 50. The treating chamber 46 includes a supply pipe or line 52 connected to a supply of liquid ammonium hydroxide by an electrically operated pumping means, the supply line 52 being disposed above a somewhat V- shaped trough 54 in which the liquid ammonium hydroxide is discharged. Because of the different quantities and speeds at which the copy material 12 is moved through the treating or developing chamber '46, it is necessary to supply different quantities of ammonia to the chamber. The machine 10 includes a novel control circuit shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings for adjusting the quantities of ammonia supplied to the inlet 52, which will be discussed in detail hereinafter.

As the leading edge of the developed copy sheet 12 leaves the developing chamber 46, it is advanced by the conveying assembly 50 to a position interposed between the belts 48 and a plurality of belts 56 forming a part of a conveying assembly 58. The assemblies 50 and 58 advance the copy sheet 12 toward the rear of the machine to a position adjacent a rear discharge opening indicated generally as 60'. A gate element 62, when operated to the position shown in solid line in FIG. 1, opens the rear discharge opening 60 so that the leading edge of the developed copy sheet 12 passes outwardly from the back of the machine to be stacked or rolled. This discharge through the back of the machine 10 is commonly used with large size sheets 12. If the gate 62 is operated to the position shown in dashed line in FIG. 1, the leading edge of the copy sheet 12 is advanced by the conveying assembly 58 to a position located between the back discharge opening 60 and a front discharge opening indicated generally as 64 and at which a second gate means 66 is disposed. If the controls for the machine are adjusted so that the gate means 64 is in the position shown in solid line, the conveying assembly 58 advances the leading edge of the copy sheet 12 over the upper surface of the gate means 64 and an additional guide and supporting element 66 to be discharged into a print or copy receiver tray 68 under the driving force provided by the portion of the conveying assembly 58 disposed to the right of the gate element 64. The gate means 64 is adjusted to the position shown in solid line when the copy sheets 12 are large enough in size to be advanced so that the leading edge passes through the opening 64 and reaches the print tray 68 before the trailing edge leaves the conveyor. Alternatively, if the copy sheets 12 are of a smaller size, the controls for the machine 10 are adjusted to move the gate means 64 to the position shown in dashed outline. In this position, the leading edge of the copy sheet 12 impinges against the gate means 64 and is deflected down to engage portions 56a of the belts 56 in the assembly 58 which, in effect, provide a second conveying means. The portions 56a of the belts 56 then transport the copy sheet 12 to the print tray 68. The gate means 64 is adjusted to the setting shown in dashed outline when the copy sheet 12 is too short to be discharged through the opening 64 by the portion of the conveying assembly 58 disposed to the right of the gate means 64.

Referring now more specifically to the conveying means 20, this conveying means comprises a plurality of spaced flexible belts 18 which pass around a driven roller 70, a generally flat guide plate 72, and two idler or tensioning rollers 74 and 76. The conveying assembly 24 includes a driven roller or pulley 78 and a plurality of idler or tensioning rollers or pulleys 80, 82, 84, 86, and 88. The flexible belts 22 are maintained in spaced parallel positions and serve to advance the superimposed copy sheet 12 and tracing 14 past the exposing station provided by the drum 26 and the light source 28 to a position adjacent the separating assembly 32. Thereafter, the belts 22, in cooperation with the vacuum or suction tank 36, feed the exposed copy sheet 12 to the developing station or chamber 46.

The separating assembly 32 (FIGS. 1-4) includes the plurality of flexible belts which are maintained in spaced positions on a drive pulley 90 and a pair of idler or tensioning pulleys 92 and 94. Movement of the tracing 14 around the tank 34 in contact with the flexible belts 30 is aided by a guide structure 96 mounted in an adjustable position on the supporting frame for the machine 10, and this tracing is pressed against the belts 30 opposite the pulley or roller 94 by a pressure roller 98 mounted in an adjustable position on the supporting structure for the machine 10.

To maintain the inner surface of the tracing 14 in contact with the belts 30 during the interval in which the tracing 14 is separated from the copy sheet 12, the belts 30 are provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 100 which place portions of the under surface of the tracing 14 in communication with the interior of the vacuum tank 34 through a plurality of openings or apertures 102 in the arcuate surface of the tank 34. This surface of the tank 34 is also provided with a plurality of raised portions or ridges 34a having spaced apertures 104 formed therein. The vacuum applied through the openings 100', 102, and 104 in the tank 34 and the belts 30 creates a pressure differential across the sheet 14 and tends to hold this sheet in contact with the moving belts 30 and to separate it from the copy sheet 12. In the usual arrangement, the apertured surface of the tank or chamber 34 is smooth and there are air spaces between adjacent spaced belts which tend to reduce the efliciency of the vacuum to hold the tracing 14 in contact with the moving belts 30. This reduces the efficiency of the separation of the tracing 14 from the copy sheet 12. In accordance with the present invention, the raised portions or ridges 34a are provided which aid in maintaining the positive spacing of the adjacent belts 38. Further, by the provisions of the openings 104 in the raised portions 34a, the interior of the vacuum tank 34 is placed in direct communication with the adjacent under surface of the tracing 14 in those areas in which the tracing is not engaged by the belts 30. This prevents the loss of vacuum normally occasioned by the open spaces between the adjacent belts and substantially enhances or increases the pressure differential across the tracing 14 with the accompanying increase in the effectiveness of the separator assembly 32.

The conveying or sheet and web transporting assembly 50 (FIG. 1) includes a plurality of drive, idler, and tensioning rollers 152, 154, 156, and 158 about which the plurality of flexible belts 48 pass to convey the exposed copy sheet 12 past the treating or developing chamber or tank 46 and into a position in which it is interposed between the belts 48 and the belts 56 in the conveying assembly 58. The conveying assembly 58 (FIGS. 1 and 6) includes a plurality of drive, idler, and tensioning pulleys 160, 162, 164, and 166 about which the flexible belts 56 pass. A generally arcuate guide 168 (FIG. 6) carried on the frame guides movement of the leading edge of the copy sheet or web 12 between the belts 48 and 56 so that the copy sheet travels to the left (FIG. 6) towards the discharge opening 60 at the rear or back of the housing for the machine 10. A guide structure 170 insures the separation of the leading edge of the sheet 12 from the flexible belts 48 and directs this leading edge between the portions of the belts 56 entrained on the pulley or roller 166 and an opposed roller 172 rotatably mounted on the housing.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a single illustrative embodiment thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a copying apparatus using sheets or webs of flexible material, a sheet separating assembly comprising a plurality of relatively flat, flexible belts having spaced apertures therein, each of said belts having a first transverse dimension, guide means mounting said belts in spaced and adjacent positions to form a web and sheet conveying surface, drive means for moving the belts to convey sheets or webs contacting the belts, and a vacuum chest having an apertured, arcuate convex surface over which the belts are moved in contact therewith so as to follow the contours of said surface, said surface including raised portions interposed between the edges of adjacent areas of the belts, each of said raised portions having spaced openings therein, and a transverse dimension substantially less than said first transverse dimension, the vacuum chest applying a pressure differential for holding the webs and sheets in contact with the belts, the pressure differential being applied directly to the webs and sheets through the openings in the raised portions and to the webs and sheets through the apertures in the belts and apertured surface in said vacuum chest.

2. In a copying apparatus using flexible material, a separator assembly comprising a plurality of relatively flat, flexible conveying means of a first transverse dimension, having spaced apertures therein, a driving and guiding structure for moving the flexible conveying means in spaced and generally parallel positions along a given path to provide a conveying surface for contacting the flexible material, said structure including a substantially arcuate, convex surface engaging the conveying means at a predetermined point in the path so that said conveying means follow the contour of said surface, said surface having raised portions, each of a transverse dimension substantially less than said first transverse dimension, disposed between the conveying means, said surface and said raised portions having spaced openings, and means for applying a vacuum at one side of the surface that is eifective through the openings to hold the flexible material against the raised portions and the flexible conveying means.

8 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,816,160 12/1957 Young 271-74 3,198,517 8/1965 Martin 271-74 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,231,917 4/1960 France.

RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner 

